Ships identify themselves as Chinese to avoid Iranian attacks

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan [AP Photo]

Some commercial ships near or in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf have declared themselves as China-linked since the Iran war began, marine traffic data show, as their operators apparently try to reduce risks of being targeted in attacks.

At least eight vessels in or near the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman changed their declared destination signals to short messages such as “CHINA OWNER” or “CHINA OWNER&CREW,” according to data on the ship tracking platform MarineTraffic analyzed by The Associated Press.

“The main goal of vessels publicly identifying themselves as ‘Chinese’ while transiting the Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz is primarily to reduce the risk of being attacked rather than to facilitate passage through the strait itself,” said Ana Subasic, a trade risk analyst at data and analytics firm Kpler, which owns MarineTraffic.

Some of the vessels passed through the strait and headed for their destinations. Others were still in the area.

Iran and affiliated groups have generally avoided targeting ships linked to China, Subasic said, given China’s relatively neutral stance and stronger economic ties with Iran.

“The message is more like ‘do not mistake me for the kind of ship you said you would hit,’” said Kun Cao, client director at consulting firm Reddal.

Iranian attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf and the wider region have particularly raised concerns among shippers.

Most of the eight vessels identified by MarineTraffic were not China flagged. Their flag states included Panama and the Marshall Islands, although Reddal’s Cao noted that a vessel’s flag often “has little to do with the ship owner’s nationality” in commercial shipping.

While many bulk carriers have strong links with China in terms of ownership, operation and cargo, the actual effectiveness of declaring themselves as China-linked in avoiding attacks is unclear, said Rico Luman, a senior economist at the Dutch bank ING who focuses on transport and logistics.

Destination signals are short notes or messages manually entered by a ship’s crew into a vessel’s transponder, a global positioning system locator, and broadcast publicly, Subasic said. They typically show the ship’s intended next port and are usually intended to help with navigation safety, traffic awareness and port planning.

Because destination signals are not strictly verified in real time, “some vessels occasionally use it to display additional information or signals, such as references to ownership or nationality,” she said.

During earlier Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, some vessels adopted a similar approach by declaring themselves or their crew as having links to China, which appeared as an effort to try to reduce risks of attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthis.

Thailand demands apology after cargo ship attack

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry conveyed its “strongest protest” to the Iranian ambassador in Bangkok after a Thai cargo ship was struck and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz. Thailand requested a statement of apology from the Iranian authorities.

The deputy permanent secretary for foreign affairs, Sirilak Niyom, also requested clarification of facts surrounding the incident, according to the ministry’s statement. The ambassador, Nassereddin Heidari, “expressed his condolences and gave assurances to promptly convey Thailand’s protest to the capital,” the statement said.

A search is still ongoing for three crew members while 20 others were rescued on Wednesday without serious injuries but might need psychological support, Thai officials said.

Japanese-flagged ship damaged in Persian Gulf

Mitsui O.S.K Lines said yesterday that a Japanese-flagged container ship One Majesty was damaged while anchored in the Persian Gulf.

All crew members on board were safe and the ship is operational. The impact cause and extent of the damage is unknown and under investigation, Mitsui said.

Crew members felt a shock near the stern and later found damages while the ship was anchored about 60 miles (96 kilometers) southwest of the Strait of Hormuz, Mitsui said.

A Mitsui-operated oil tanker also experienced minor damages from unidentified falling objects in the Gulf of Oman. The tanker has left the area and the company is investigating.

19 commercial ships hit so far in war

At least 19 commercial ships have been damaged so far in the war, figures showed yesterdayy.

Through Wednesday night, there had been at least 16 vessels attacked in the Persian Gulf and the wider region, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy.

An oil rig separately was attacked off Saudi Arabia, as well.

Overnight, two ships were hit by Iranian fire at a port near Basra, Iraq. Another was attacked yesterday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. MDT/AP